Dzongkha

Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan, is a member of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. It is closely related to Tibetan and is written in the Tibetan script. Dzongkha is spoken by about 700,000 people, mainly in Bhutan, but also in India, Nepal and Tibet. Dzongkha is a tonal language, with four tones: high, middle, low and extra-low. There are two main dialects, western and eastern, which are not mutually intelligible. The western dialect is spoken in the west of Bhutan and the eastern dialect is spoken in the east. Dzongkha has a complex grammar, with many suffixes and particles. The language has no gender and no articles. Verbs are conjugated according to person, number and tense. Dzongkha is a rich and expressive language, with a wide variety of words for emotions and concepts. The language has been influenced by Tibetan and Sanskrit and has borrowed many words from these languages. Dzongkha is the language of the Bhutanese government and the official language of education. It is also the language of the Buddhist scriptures. Dzongkha is taught in Bhutanese schools and there are a number of Dzongkha language schools in Bhutan. The Dzongkha language is an important part of Bhutanese culture and identity. The language is used in all aspects of life, from everyday conversation to religious ceremonies. Dzongkha is a living language, which is constantly evolving to meet the needs of its speakers.